Scientists uncover genetic risks for stroke

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists have found important genetic differences that significantly raise the risk of stroke, and they are found in millions of people.

The study is the first to identify common genetic variants influencing stroke risk in the United States and may lead to better treatments, they reported on Wednesday.

While other stroke-related genes have been discovered, none involved such a wide portion of the population, said Eric Boerwinkle of The University of Texas Health Science Center.

"This is a first step in unraveling the genetic contributions of this debilitating disease," said Boerwinkle, whose team was one of several contributing to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and causes serious long-term disabilities for many worldwide.

Boerwinkle said the teams found two genetic variants on chromosome 12 near two genes that are implicated in stroke. One, called WNK1, is associated with blood pressure control and the other, NINJ2, is linked with brain injury repair.

The two genes, next to each other, both are also strongly linked with ischemic stroke, which is the most common type of stroke and is caused by blocked blood vessels in the brain.

Boerwinkle said it is not clear which specific gene is implicated, but he said the most likely suspect is NINJ2.